adventfivejoy

We may not have snow in Kingston as this third Sunday of Advent begins, but we have joy!

This Sunday we celebrate the story of how God has come among us in Jesus through a series of readings and carols that speak of God’s faithfulness and our hope. It is an hour of beauty and of joy lead by the St. Andrew’s Choir and the St. Andrew’s Baroque Ensemble, conducted by our Director of Music, John Hall.

In addition, John will be playing the bells of St. Andrew’s every Sunday in December at noon. Be sure to linger for a moment and enjoy! (There is an article about the peal in the most recent copy of the congregational newsletter found on pages 6-7 at https://drive.google.com/a/standrewskingston.org/file/d/0BzbM1QYuC2_uVHdUQVlvVGFqanM/view?pli=1 )

Be sure to read the announcements within the Order of Service. You will notice that we are welcoming our new nursery caregiver, Ashley Reynolds, who will be awaiting our infants and toddlers …

Many of us have been following a series of devotions based on the writings of the theologian Henri Nouwen. Here is one that touches upon the themes of great gifts and deepest joys, a perfect preparation for me this third week of Advent:

But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Ephesians 4:7

Many things in our lives matter intensely to us, but those are what we must be careful to ‘hold lightly.’ Holding lightly to all that is important in our lives means remembering that we are not what we acquire and we accomplish as much as what we have received. The deepest joys come not from the money we earn, the friends we surround ourselves with, or the results we achieve. We are the gifts we are given, not just the conquests we make. As long as we keep running around, anxiously trying to affirm ourselves or be affirmed by others, we remain blind to One who has love us first, dwells in our heart, and has formed our truest self.

O God, may we be grateful for the incomparable gift of faith you have granted us through the redemptive grace of your Son Jesus. Amen.

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